Folding structure for chairs

ABSTRACT

A folding structure for chairs comprising a front support, a first loading member, a rear support, a second loading member and two armrests pivotally engaging with one another to form a folding chair that may be folded or extended rapidly. When the chair is folded, the rear support is located in the first loading member and the first loading member is located in the front support, and the front support and the two armrests are folded towards each other, and the first loading member and second loading member are folded towards each other. The resulting folding chair has a shorter length and smaller thickness, and makes carrying and storing more convenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding structure for chairsand particularly a chair that is capable of folding rapidly.

[0002] Nowadays folding chairs are widely used by people for outdoorsactivities, school events or provisional meetings. In the past, foldingchairs are mostly made of woods. As wooden chairs are very heavy, theyare mostly faded away from the market these days.

[0003] To remedy the shortcomings of the wooden chairs, some furnitureproducers have developed and introduced folding chairs made of steel oraluminum tubes or rods bending to desired shapes and coupling with aseat pad. The chairs thus made are light weight and may be folded to acompact size, and are convenient to carry. They are well accepted on themarket and have become the mainstream of the folding chairs.

[0004]FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional folding chair disclosed in priorart that is supported by rear legs. The backrest and front legs areformed by same tube (rod). However, after using for a period of time,the seat pad tends to sag and causes deformation of the pivotal shaftswhich engage the tube and seat pad, and also engage the seat pad and therear legs. As a result, the pivotal sections could be jammed and notfunction properly, and the chair cannot be folded as desired. Or thechair cannot be fully extended for use once folded. This causes a lot oftroubles when in use. Moreover, the folding chairs are quite lengthy andare not easy to carry, transport or store.

[0005] There are another type of conventional folding chairs with thebackrest spaced apart from the seat pad frame when the chair is extendedfor use. The chairs tend to generate a lot of movements between thebackrest and seat pad when users sit down (resulting from users'weights), and would result in wobbling of the chairs. Using for aprolonged period of time, the chairs could become loose or fallingapart, or cause pivotal shaft deformation. As a result, the chairs couldalso become not folding or extending properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoingdisadvantages. The invention aims to provide a novel pivotal structureto pivotally engage the rods and tubes of various chair elements toallow the chairs be folded or extended rapidly. The pivotal tubes orrods also may function properly without deformation. The folding chairshave a shorter length and smaller thickness to facilitate carrying andstoring.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a safety latch onthe chair to prevent various elements of the chair from loosening orsliding thereby to enhance users' safety and increase the durability ofthe chair.

[0008] To attain the foregoing objects, the invention consists of afront support, a first loading member, a rear support, a second loadingmember and two armrests. All the elements are pivotally engaged with oneanother to form a rapid folding chair.

[0009] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a chair of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the chair of invention underfolding.

[0013]FIG. 3B is another schematic view of the chair of invention underfolding.

[0014]FIG. 3C is yet another schematic view of the chair of inventionunder folding.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of theinvention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a conventional folding chairsupporting by rear legs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chair according to the inventionconsists of a front support 1, a first loading member 2, a rear support3, a second loading member 4 and two armrests 5 and 5′. The elements setforth above may be formed by bending rods or tubes, and are pivotallyengaged together for forming a folding chair that may be folded rapidly.

[0020] The front support 1 has a front bottom section 11 to rest on theground surface and two symmetrical front flank sections 12 and 12′extending from two sides of the front bottom section 11.

[0021] The first loading member 2 has a front end section 21 and twosymmetrical first flank sections 22 and 22′ extending from two sides ofthe front end section 21. The two first flank sections 22 and 22′ haverespectively a free end coupling with a bushing 23 and 23′. The twobushings 23 and 23′ are bridged by a rear stretcher bar 24. The firstflank section 22 and 22′ further are pivotally engaged with the frontflank sections 12 and 12′ through a pivotal shaft 6 at a selectedlocation.

[0022] The rear support 3 has a rear bottom section 31 resting on theground surface and two symmetrical rear flank sections 32 and 32′extending from two sides of the rear bottom section 31. The two rearflank sections 32, 32′ have respectively a free end bent to form a bendsection 33 and 33′. The bend sections 33 and 33′ are pivotally engagedwith the first flank section 22, 22′ of the first loading member 2through a pivotal shaft 61.

[0023] The second loading member 4 includes a rear end section 41 andtwo symmetrical second flank section 42 and 42′ extending from two sidesof the rear end section 41. The second flank section 42 and 42′ furtherhave respectively a free end pivotally engaged with the bend section 33,33′ through a pivotal shaft 62, and couple respectively with a sleeve 45and 45′. The sleeve 45 and 45′ are pivotally and respectively engagedwith a side stretcher bar (linkage bar) 43, 43′. The stretcher bars(linkage bar) 43 and 43′ have respectively one end pivotally engagedwith the pivotal shaft 6 at the juncture of the front support 1 and thefirst loading member 2. The second flank section 42 and 42′ further arepivotally and respectively engaged with a safety latch 44 which has oneend engageable with a tenon 25 located on the first flank section 22,22′ for preventing the first loading member 2 and second loading member4 from loosening apart.

[0024] The two armrest 5 and 5′ are pivotally engaged with the frontsupport 1 and second loading member 4 through pivotal shafts 63 and 64for supporting people's arms during sitting.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, when to fold the chair, first,release the latch condition by disengaging the safety latch 44 from thetenon 25, then move the first loading member 2 towards the secondloading member 4, the front support 1 and the two armrests 5 and 5′ willalso be moved synchronously upwards for folding, then the rear support 3will be folded inwards. When the chair is fully folded, the rear support3 is located in the first loading member 2 and the first loading member2 is located in the front support 1, and the front support 1 and the twoarmrests 5 and 5′ are folded towards each other, and the first loadingmember 2 and second loading member 4 are folded towards each other. Theresulting folding chair has a shorter length and smaller thickness, andmakes carrying and storing more convenient.

[0026] When to extend the chair for use, move the first loading member 2outwards, the front support 1 and two armrests will also be extendeddownwards simultaneously, then extend the rear support 3 outwards. Whenthe front support 1, first loading member 2, rear support 3, and twoarmrest 5, 5′ are extended, engage the safety latch 44 with the tenon 25to prevent the first loading member 2 and second loading member 4 fromsliding away so that the chair can support people securely withoutwobbling.

[0027] The pivotal engagements of the invention set forth above allowthe chair folding or extending smoothly without jamming. And the chairmay also be folded or extended rapidly.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4 for a first embodiment of the invention, thefree ends of the first flank section 22 and 22′ of the first loadingmember 2 are coupled respectively with a bushing 23, 23′ which arebridged by a rear stretcher bar 24. Before the bushings 23, 23′ arecoupled to the a rear stretcher bar 24, the first loading member 2 maybe coupled with a first loading plane 7, then couple the bushings 23,23′ and the rear stretcher bar 24 to the first loading member 2. Thenthe second loading member 4 may be coupled with a second loading plane8. The first loading plane 7 and second loading plane 8 are joined at ajuncture and extend therefrom a connection flap 9. At least one elasticelement 10 is provided to connect the connection flap 9 and rearstretcher bar 24. When a user sits down on the chair, the elasticelement 10 will adjust loading conditions of the first loading plane 7and second loading plane 8.

[0029]FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention which islargely constructed like the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The maindifference is that after the first loading plane 7 is coupled to thefirst loading member 2, the connection flap 9 extending from thejuncture of the first loading plane 7 and second loading plane 8 iscoupled to the rear stretcher bar 24, then couple the bushings 23, 23′.When people is sitting on the chair, the connection flap 9 will bestretched by the rear stretcher bar 24 to form the first loading plane 7and second loading plane 8 to support people.

[0030]FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention. The firstloading member 2 is integrally formed with a back end section 26, thusthe bushings 23, 23′ and rear stretcher bar 24 may be dispensed with.The first loading plane 7 and second loading plane 8 are directlystraddled and fastened to the first loading member 2 and second loadingmember 4. Assembly is simpler and production costs can be greatlyreduced. At least one elastic element 10 is provided to connect theconnection flap and the back end section 26. When an user sits down onthe chair, the elastic element 10 will adjust loading conditions of thefirst loading plane 7 and second loading plane 8.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding structure for a chair, comprising: afront support having a front bottom section to rest on the groundsurface and two symmetrical front flank sections extending from twosides of the front bottom section; a first loading member having a frontend section and two symmetrical first flank sections extending from twosides of the front end section, the first flank sections being pivotallyengaged with the front flank sections of the front support at selectedpivotal locations; a rear support having a rear bottom section restingon the ground surface and two symmetrical rear flank section extendingfrom two sides of the rear bottom section, the two rear flank sectionhaving respectively a bend section, the bend sections being pivotallyengaged with the first flank sections of the first loading member; asecond loading member having a rear end section and two symmetricalsecond flank section extending from two sides of the rear end section,the second flank section being pivotally engaged with the bend sections;and two armrests pivotally engaging with the front support and thesecond loading member such that the chair is pivotally engaged for rapidfolding.
 2. The folding structure for a chair of claim 1, wherein thefront support, the first loading member, the rear support, the secondloading member and the armrests are formed by bending rods or tubes. 3.The folding structure for a chair of claim 1, wherein the first flanksection of the first loading member has a tenon mounted thereon at aselected location.
 4. The folding structure for a chair of claim 1,wherein the second flank sections of the second loading member have asafety latch located thereon.
 5. The folding structure for a chair ofclaim 1, wherein the second flank sections of the second loading memberare coupled respectively with a sleeve, the sleeve being pivotallyengaged with a side stretcher bar (linkage bar), the stretcher bar(linkage bar) having one end pivotally engaged with the pivotallocations of the front support and the first loading member.
 6. Afolding structure for chairs comprising a front support, a first loadingmember, a rear support, a second loading member and two armrestspivotally engaging with one another to form a folding chair for rapidfolding, wherein: the front support has a front bottom section whichextends to form two front flank sections with free ends, each of thefree ends being coupled with a bushing, the two bushings being bridgedby a rear stretcher bar; and the first loading member and the secondloading member are coupled respectively with two loading planes whichjoin at a juncture with a connecting flap extending therefrom to engagewith at least one elastic element, the elastic element having one endengaged with the rear stretcher bar to adjust loading conditions of theloading planes when an user sitting on the folding chair.
 7. The foldingstructure for chairs of claim 6, wherein the two loading planes arecoupled respectively with the first loading member and the secondloading member and join at a juncture with a connecting flap extendingtherefrom to couple with the rear stretcher bar, the connecting flapbeing stretchable by the rear stretcher bar to form a loading plane forsupporting people when an user sitting on the folding chair.
 8. Afolding structure for chairs comprising a front support, a first loadingmember, a rear support, a second loading member and two armrestspivotally engaging with one another to form a folding chair for rapidfolding, wherein: the front support has a front bottom section extendingto form two front flank sections which have free ends to form a back endsection; and the first loading member and the second loading member arecoupled respectively with two loading planes which join at a juncturewith a connecting flap extending therefrom to engage with at least oneelastic element, the elastic element having one end engaged with theback end section to adjust loading conditions of the loading planes whenan user sitting on the folding chair.